The two had been in intimate contact many times, and Lin Mei was already familiar with Xing Zheng's scent. Today, however, the familiar pine scent seemed to be mixed with a hint of rust, smelling like blood. The room was dimly lit, and Lin Mei couldn't see the man's expression, only hearing his suppressed breathing, which was different from usual.
As he held her now, he lacked his usual flippancy and indulgence. It wasn't even like flirting, but rather like seeking some kind of comfort. Lin Mei clearly sensed the intense sadness emanating from him.
Perhaps women have that inexplicable empathy. Lin Mei's voice softened considerably as she spoke to him, using such a tone for the first time since they met.
"Are you injured? Don't move, I'll turn on the light to see."
Lin Mei had been to his house once before and, relying on memory, found the switch. When she pressed it, the living room was instantly illuminated.
Lin Mei looked up at the man holding her tightly. Her eyes immediately fell on the wound on his forehead. It didn't look like a fresh injury; some parts had already scabbed over, while others were still bleeding. Bloodstains remained around the wound, which looked very deep. Lin Mei felt a pang of pain after just a few seconds of looking.
"Did you get into a fight?" With such an injury, Lin Mei could only think of this reason. But it didn't seem very logical. With his physique, how could anyone defeat him?
Xing Zheng was unusually silent. Lin Mei observed him again. His eyes were bloodshot. Those already deep and inscrutable eyes were even more intimidating. Lin Mei became even more certain that he must be in a bad mood.
Could it be that he really fought with someone? He looked like someone had hurt his feelings.
For some reason, Lin Mei suddenly recalled the gossip she had overheard at the alumni reunion. Could it be that Xing Zheng was like this because of his "white moonlight" crush?
"Do you have a first-aid kit at home?" Lin Mei struggled a bit and said to him, "Your wound needs to be disinfected and bandaged. Leaving it exposed like this can easily lead to infection... Mmm..."
As Lin Mei was speaking, the man suddenly kissed her passionately. Lin Mei retreated, but soon found herself with no escape.
The man's solid body pressed her against the door, stealing her breath.
Unlike before, Lin Mei felt a deep despair in his kiss, like the struggle of a drowning person before death. Lin Mei placed her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, each beat as if it would break through his chest.
"Do you care about me?" The man kissed her for nearly two minutes, his lips against hers, and finally spoke his first words since they met tonight.
His voice was hoarse, as if he had swallowed sand, and it was soul-stirring, as if he had just suffered a heavy blow.
"Where is your first-aid kit?" Lin Mei repeated her earlier question.
This time, the man released her. "In the cabinet in the walk-in closet."
Lin Mei stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and, unusually sternly, pushed him onto the sofa. "Sit down properly!"
Xing Zheng didn't move, sitting in place, his gaze lost as he watched her back.
Xing Zheng's home was meticulously organized. Guided by his hint, Lin Mei found the first-aid kit as soon as she entered. She returned to the living room with the kit, placed it on the coffee table, opened it, and took out wound disinfectant and cotton swabs.
"It will hurt, bear with it," Lin Mei warned Xing Zheng before applying the medicine, then carefully began.
She had always been afraid of pain, and seeing the wound made her reluctant to even apply medicine. However, Xing Zheng seemed to have lost his sense of pain, remaining expressionless throughout, not even frowning once.
Lin Mei spent about ten minutes treating Xing Zheng's wound. She put away the first-aid kit and, looking at the gauze on his forehead, still felt uneasy. "Why don't you go to the hospital? The wound is very deep, you might need a tetanus shot."
Xing Zheng paid no attention. He sat on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the floor. From Lin Mei's perspective, his posture appeared very dejected. Lin Mei was accustomed to Xing Zheng's flippant and glib remarks, and even more so to his domineering and assertive nature. His sudden change was truly unsettling.
Lin Mei sat beside Xing Zheng and nudged his arm, trying to break the ice. "Did you call me over just to laugh at me, Mr. Xing?"
"Heh." The man, who had been looking down, suddenly let out a light laugh, which had a hint of his usual demeanor.
He turned his gaze to the woman beside him, grabbed her wrist, and lowered his head to kiss her lips. "If not for this, how could I enjoy such gentle treatment from Sister Lin?"
"No wonder Chen Qi won't break up with you. You're always this caring towards him, aren't you?"
The man's mood changed as quickly as flipping a book, returning to his usual unrestrained self in an instant. Lin Mei retorted, "Mr. Xing specifically called me over, and it's just the two of us in the villa. If something were to happen to Mr. Xing, wouldn't I be the prime suspect?"
"Sharp-tongued." Xing Zheng's thumb brushed across her lips. "I'm hungry, go make me something to eat."
Lin Mei: "..."
She regretted bandaging him. This scoundrel Xing Zheng was more likable when he wasn't speaking.
Lin Mei was led to the dining room by Xing Zheng. She stood in front of the refrigerator, opened the door, and saw it was packed with ingredients. There were seven or eight kinds of vegetables. Xing Zheng leaned against the dining table and imperiously ordered her, "I want green beans, and also bean sprouts. For the meat dish, ribs. For the rest, you can improvise."
Lin Mei almost wanted to quit. Not only was she his casual partner, but she also had to moonlight as a nanny and chef!
The scoundrel was truly a capitalist, knowing best how to exploit people.
Lin Mei turned back, intending to argue with him, but seeing the injury on his forehead, she dismissed the idea. Fine, why should she argue with someone who was injured? She could just consider it a good deed.
Moreover, the dishes Xing Zheng mentioned were all her specialties. Her parents often cooked these dishes when she was young, especially green beans and ribs, which she knew by heart.
Lin Mei prepared the ingredients and got busy at the counter. Unbeknownst to her, Xing Zheng came up behind her and hung an apron around her neck, then tied the belt for her.
The man's movements were skillful. Lin Mei could feel his fingertips lightly brushing against her, through the fabric, slowly tracing her tailbone, just like when they were intimate.
His touch brought back memories of the past, flashing like the opening sequence of a movie.
Lost in these scattered thoughts, Lin Mei's ears turned red. Xing Zheng happened to see it, and he moved his hand down, pinching her waist lightly, teasing her, "Can't take it already? No wonder I say you're useless."
"Get lost!" Lin Mei, embarrassed and angry, turned and pushed him away.
---
Lin Mei spent nearly an hour preparing several dishes. After the food was served, she discovered that Xing Zheng had brought out alcohol. It wasn't red wine, but a high-proof foreign liquor, which was not only strong but also had a significant aftereffect.
Lin Mei asked Xing Zheng, "Are you crazy?"
It was one thing to drink this liquor normally, but drinking it while injured today was clearly courting disaster. "Even if Mr. Xing is truly heartbroken, he shouldn't be self-harming like this."